This week (3-7 March 2025) has been marked by the NPCC and College of Policing as the national Police Staff Week of Celebration and Recognition. The week honours the role that police staff play in realising the policing mission. As many forensic practitioners perform their duties as police staff - including FCN's own team members - we've decided to shine a spotlight on forensic staff.

Celebrating FCN's staff

Forensic staff play crucial roles in police investigations, and many of FCN's team previously worked in-force on live cases. In fact, members of our staff have been involved in high-profile cases including The Yorkshire Ripper, and the murder investigations of April Jones, Amanda Dowler, and Samantha Eastwood. 

Others in our team have worked on cases including the Christopher Stubbings international paedophile ring, the Deepcut Barracks deaths incident, the Brink's-Mat £26m gold bullion robbery, and the Grenfell Tower disaster.

When it comes to a dedicated career, we have members of staff with up to 45 years of experience in their field. The FCN's people have also lived and worked abroad in North Carolina, Bermuda and elsewhere.

Although, some of the team also had careers before forensics, with some working in retail, others in academia, and one having a previous career in pharmaceuticals producing snake antivenoms! And many still cultivate a wide variety of hobbies and skills outside of work, with one being a shepherdess, another owning a gym, others who are scout leaders, dog trainers, and involved in dramatic arts.

Collectively, the team brings all of these experiences together to help and support police forces and the whole forensic community. 

Police staff events

During Police Staff Week, FCN's Jo Morrissey attended the inaugural Metropolitan Police Staff Network event, which was held at the US Embassy in London. The event was opened by the Commissioner Mark Rowley and closed by Clare Davies the Met’s Chief People and Resources Officer, who is the highest police staff member in the country. 

Jo gave a presentation on why policing needs staff networks, and there were several forensic practitioners in attendance. "It was interesting to hear from police staff across a wide range of disciplines who all had very similar experiences," Jo said after the event. 

The Met Police network was officially launched in May 2024, and many other forces are now creating police staff networks. 

Police staff awards

This week also saw the Police Staff National Awards 2025, which FCN's Jo Morrissey had the privilege of shortlisting in the lifetime achievement category. There were over 1,000 nominations across seven categories, with more than 300 nominations for the lifetime achievement category. 

Jo said:

"There were amazing stories of individuals who had committed themselves to public service, some for more than 40 years, where their wealth of knowledge and experience was invaluable to their force. Nominees included those who had experiences personal illness and adversity and still continued to serve at the most amazing levels. 

"It was inspiring and humbling to read about the impact that police staff have on their colleagues, their organisations and the public and to finally see some of these people recognised. It was so difficult to provide a shortlist as every single nominee deserved recognition and thanks."